These scam operations are being operated from several locations in Cambodia and Myanmar.
New Delhi: TimesNetwork has accessed exclusive details of the large scam network operating out of Cambodia and Myanmar, targeting over 6,000 Indian citizens. This network, run through Chinese casinos turned into call centres, is used by scammers dressed as Indian police officers to deceive and extort victims.
Pictures of scammers exclusively accessed by Times Now show the fake officers wearing Pajama’s below the police uniform as they make calls threatening innocent Indians as Delhi Police officers. The scammers use fake summons to intimidate their victims and extort large sums of money from their targets, sometimes running into crores.
These scam operations are being operated from several locations in Cambodia and Myanmar. The GPS coordinates shared in the investigation have identified specific hubs within these countries, where these call centres are believed to operate. A network flow chart links four locations in Cambodia and two in Myanmar, outlining the vast reach of this operation.
The complex web of organized human trafficking and cyber fraud was recently revealed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which is probing these scams.
Officials sources said that the accused reportedly operated under the guise of Ali International Services, a consultancy firm, to recruit Indian youth under false pretenses and transport them to the Golden Triangle Region in Laos. There, they were coerced into executing cyber scams aimed at European and American citizens.
Cyber Scams and Trafficking linkages
The trafficked individuals were reportedly forced to create fake social media profiles to lure foreigners into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes.
Victims attempting to flee the operation were extorted through cryptocurrency wallets.
Investigations also point out the direct involvement of Chinese entities. Allegedly, Chinese companies were central to the operation, benefiting from the coerced labor of trafficked individuals, investigations show.
The traffickers facilitated cross-border movement and document arrangements, bypassing legal protocols with assistance from contacts within the Golden Triangle, sources said.
Centre’s Big Move Against Digital Arrests
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a high-level committee to investigate digital arrest scam cases and cyber fraud. The committee was announced days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged the issue of fraudsters targeting people with the cyber crime of “digital arrests” and urged people to adopt the mantra of “stop, think and take action” when faced with such a scam, asserting that these steps will provide digital security to them.
“A special campaign will be conducted to curb incidents of digital arrests,” the source said.
The Ministry’s Cybercrime Coordination Centre, also known as 14C, has established communication with police of all states and union territories to inform them of the committee.
“The I4C wing of MHA will monitor digital arrests case by case. MHA’s cyber wing has blocked 600,000 mobile phones to date. These 600,000 mobile phones were involved in incidents of cyber fraud and digital arrests,” the source said.
MHA’s I4C wing has also blocked 709 mobile apps so far.
“110,000 IMEIs involved in cyber fraud have been blocked. 325,000 fake bank accounts linked to cyber fraud have been frozen,” the source added.
‘Stop, Think And Take Action’: PM Shares Must-Dos Against Digital Arrests Scam
In his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ broadcast, PM Modi said probe agencies are working with states to deal with the issue but added that awareness is essential in protecting oneself from this crime.
During his broadcast, he also shared a conversation between a victim and a fraudster to highlight the cyber crime of digital arrest.
“The fraudsters of digital arrest phone calls, at times, impersonate as police, CBI, Narcotics; at times RBI… using such various labels, they converse as fake officers with a lot of confidence. Many listeners of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ have wished that we must discuss that,” he said.
Explaining the modus operandi of such fraudsters, he said they collect personal information as their first move and then in their second move create an atmosphere of fear.
“‘You went to Goa last month, didn’t you? Your daughter studies in Delhi, right’? They collect so much information about you that you will be surprised. The second move – create an atmosphere of fear… uniform, government office set-up, legal sections. They will scare you so much on the phone. In the midst of the conversation you will not be able to even think,” PM Modi said.
He said the third move of such fraudsters is the pressure of time.
“‘You have to decide now or else you will be arrested’ – these people create so much psychological pressure on the victim that one gets scared.People from every class and age group fall victim to digital arrest,” he said.
Modi also pointed out that people have lost lakhs of rupees earned through their hard work, out of sheer fear.
“Whenever you receive such a call, don’t be scared. You should be aware that no investigative agency inquires like this through a phone call or a video call. I am enumerating the three steps to digital security. These three steps are – ‘stop’, think’, ‘take action’,” he said.
“As soon as you get a call, stop… – don’t panic, stay calm, don’t take any hasty steps, don’t give away your personal information to anyone; if possible take a screenshot and record it for sure. The first step was ‘stop’ and the second step was ‘think’. No government agency threatens you on the phone like this, neither inquires nor demands money on a video call like this,” he said.
The third step is ‘take action’, Modi said and urged victims to dial the national cyber helpline 1930 and report such incidents on cybercrime.gov.in.
He also urged people to inform family and police, and preserve evidence by recording the fraud call.
“‘Stop’, then ‘think’, and then ‘take action’, these three steps will become the protector of your digital security,” Modi said.
He reiterated that there is no system like digital arrest in the law and this is just a fraud, deceit and a lie.
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